Derived from: Ahkam wa Masail – Qurbani and Aqiqah Issues, Volume 1, Page 439
❖ Question:
There is ongoing debate in our region regarding offering Qurbani on behalf of a deceased person. What is the Islamic ruling on this matter? Furthermore, kindly clarify the distinction between Qurbani performed with a will (وصیت) and without a will (غیر وصیت).
✅ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
✿ Research-Based Clarification:
◈ After thorough research and investigation on this issue, no explicit and definitive text (نص صریح) from the Qur’an or authentic Hadith could be found that directly establishes the permissibility of Qurbani on behalf of the deceased.
✿ Commonly Quoted Report from ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه):
◈ The narration related to ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (رضي الله عنه) making a will for Qurbani after his death is weak (ḍaʿīf).
◈ Hence, it is not permissible to derive a Shar‘i ruling based solely on this report.
✿ Nature of Existing Proofs:
◈ The evidence generally cited for this practice is based on analogical reasoning and indirect inference, not on clear-cut scriptural proof.
✿ Validity of Qurbani on Behalf of the Living:
◈ It is well-established that Qurbani can be performed on behalf of a living person.
✿ The Foundational Legal Principle (Qaʿidah Usuliyyah):
A general legal principle suggested by some scholars is:
“Any deed that can be performed on behalf of a living person—such as giving charity or paying a debt—can likewise be performed on behalf of a deceased person.”
◈ If this principle is accepted, it may offer room for permissibility of Qurbani on behalf of the deceased.
◈ However, as of now, there is no personal conviction (sharḥ ṣadr) to firmly apply this principle to Qurbani for the deceased.
✿ The Difference Between Willful and Non-Willful Qurbani:
✅ With a Will (وصیت کے ساتھ):
– If the deceased had made a will and left funds for Qurbani, it is permissible to carry it out from one-third of their estate.
🚫 Without a Will (بغیر وصیت):
– Performing Qurbani for the deceased without their will is not supported by explicit Shar‘i evidence, and therefore requires caution and further research.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
